The Genres of Anime and Manga Defined: Cooking

When it comes to Japanese comics and animation, many of the genres are the same ones commonly used throughout the rest of the world. Action, adventure, drama, comedy, suspense, mystery, horror, and romance are all genres everyone is familiar with, and one doesn't have to look far to find these themes creating the foundation for several Japanese series.

Of all the strange genres the Japanese come up with, cooking series have got to rank amongst the top. No, these are not shows and comics that teach you how to cook (though many of these manga titles do have recipes in the back). These are series in which the protagonist’s skill is cooking, making food is his weapon and cook-offs his battles. These series are more typically than not shounen and follow that formula pretty consistently. You can expect a protagonist who nobody expects much from when they meet him, but end up being highly moved and/or inspired by his special gift. The main character is generally very good at cooking to begin with, but he ends up improving as he is faced with cooking opponents.

Surprisingly enough, some of these titles are not only very well delivered, but very well received. They may focus on specific dishes, baking, or cooking in general. In the highly popular Yakitate! Japan, Azuma Kazuma is introduced to and falls in love with bread, and eventually leaves home to get even better at baking. Others still will combine the cooking concept with another genre; in Kakuto Ryori Densetsu Bistro Recipe (known as Fighting Foodons in the US), the protagonist cooks up food-like monsters to battle against foes. Messing up the recipe could yield a weak monster, while adding a distinct spice may give it a strong, unique trait.

As part of the shounen demographic, cooking titles are pretty predictable and still very similar to other shounen-specific genres in terms of plot. Reactions and emotions are highly exaggerated, fight scenes are extreme, and the good guys are full of lots of passion. If the shounen formula annoys you to no end, I suggest avoiding cooking series.

Examples: Yakitate! Japan, Karei naru Shokutaku (Addicted to Curry), Chuuka Ichiban! (Master Cooking Boy).

Dead Giveaways: Male lead wielding a kitchen utensil, recipes in the back of the manga, lots of food.

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